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Miami Heat face 'dog fight' to defend winning streak

The ways to quantify the Miami Heat's dominant run multiply by the day. But few numbers tell the story more simply than what counts most: wins and losses. The day the Heat began their winning streak on Feb. 1,

The ways to quantify the Miami Heat's dominant run multiply by the day.

But few numbers tell the story more simply than what counts most: wins and losses.

The day the Heat began their winning streak on Feb. 3, they were 29-14 and in a virtual first-place tie with the 30-15 New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Just 4½ games separated the Heat from the sixth-place Atlanta Hawks.

The Heat, who extended their streak to 22 games after Sunday's 108-91 victory vs. the Toronto Raptors, are 11½ games ahead of the second-place Indiana Pacers, 15 games ahead of the Chicago Bulls and 18 games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Miami has torched the East, leaving behind a trail of blowouts, dejection and doubt that anyone in the East — the Western Conference, too? — can beat the Heat in a seven-game playoff series.

"You talk about a well-oiled machine, those guys are efficient both offensively and defensively," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said in an apt, concise and efficient declaration.

On Monday against their main conference rival, the Boston Celtics, the Heat can extend their streak to 23 and surpass the 2008-09 Houston Rockets for the second longest winning streak in NBA history. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers won a record 33 consecutive games.

"Obviously any time we play Boston in Boston, it is a tough place to play," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "They play very well versus us (and) have been playing very well as of late. It is a challenge, a great challenge and I think we will be ready for it. We have to get our rest and we know we are going to have a dog fight on our hands."

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It ended in Chicago. LeBron James (center) and the Miami Heat won 27 consecutive games before losing 101-97 Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. That doesn't make the streak any less impressive, though. Flip through this gallery to remember each game.
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Feb. 3 vs. Toronto Raptors. The streak begins with a bang as the Heat come out after a loss to the Indiana Pacers and breeze on the strength of 58 combined points by LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Score: 100-85.
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports

Game 7: Feb. 14 at Oklahoma City Thunder. This NBA Finals rematch on the day before the All-Star break featured Kevin Durant, left, scoring 40 and LeBron James, right, 39. But James added 12 rebounds and seven assists, and the Heat swept the season series with the Thunder. Score: 110-100.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Game 8: Feb. 20 at Atlanta Hawks. It was balance all the way for the first game after the All-Star break, with LeBron James, left, throwing in 24 points and others such as Chris Bosh and Norris Cole chipping in. Shane Battier had 17 in making five of eight three-pointers off the bench. Score: 103-90.
Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports

Game 9: Feb. 21 at Chicago Bulls. Chris Bosh and the Heat played swarming defense on Joakim Noah and their East rivals while LeBron James had 26 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to guide the offense. Score: 86-67.
Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

Game 11: Feb. 24 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James faced his former team, which put up a fight. James had 28 points but the big contribution came from Mario Chalmers, who had 16 and helped defend Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving, who had 16 on 6-for-16 shooting. Irving also injured his knee in the game. Scote: 109-105.
Steve Mitchell,USA TODAY Sports

Game 12: vs. Sacramento Kings. The Heat's only overtime game in the streak proved taxing but ultimately successful. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, right, combined for 79 points, 23 assists, 16 rebounds, five steals and three blocks while players such as Norris Cole, left, put in extra minutes in the double-overtime showcase. Score: 141-129.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Game 13: March 1 vs. Memphis Grizzlies. With LeBron James struggling from the field, the Heat's role players such as Mario Chalmers provided a balanced effort. But James put the Grizzlies away with a late three-pointer on a great pass from Dwyane Wade with 24 seconds left, then made five free throws to seal it. Score: 98-91.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports

Game 14: March 3 at New York Knicks. Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks were mere spectators when LeBron James and the Heat decided to take over in a 54-34 second half to scrap back from a big halftime deficit. James finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Score: 99-93.
Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports

Game 16: March 6 vs. Orlando Magic. The Heat gave up a big lead to their in-state rivals, allowing Orlando to take the lead for much of the stretch run. But LeBron James' layup won it with 3.2 seconds remaining. James had 26 points and Dwyane Wade added 24. Score: 97-96.
Scott Rovak, USA TODAY Sports

Game 17: March 8 vs. Philadelphia 76ers. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, shown making a layup in front of Sixers center Spencer Hawes, combined for 47 points in a game the Heat trailed by nine in the third quarter. Score: 102-93.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Game 18: March 10 vs. Indiana Pacers. LeBron James was held to 13 points, but his teammates picked up the slack. Mario Chalmers led Miami with 26 points as the Heat beat the last team to beat them. Score: 105-91.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Game 19: vs. Atlanta Hawks. With LeBron James having another off night and finishing with 15 points on 3-for-11 shooting, the Heat leaned on balance. Udonis Haslem had 11 rebounds in 24 minutes, and Dwyane Wade posted 23 points as the team won its seventh in a row against the Hawks. Score: 98-81.
J. Pat Carter, AP

Game 20: March 13 at Philadelphia 76ers. LeBron James shook off this foul by Evan Turner to finish with 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Dwyane Wade had 21 points, including a tip-in and pair of free throws in the final minute. Thaddeus Young had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the 76ers. Score: 98-94.
Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Game 21: March 15 at Milwaukee Bucks. Heat guard Dwyane Wade fell and hurt himself but played later and had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists during an easy win. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each added 28 points, with James filling up the box score with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Score: 107-94
Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports

Game 22: March 17 at Toronto Raptors. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (pictured) combined for 66 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds as the Heat tied the 2008 Houston Rockets for the second-longest streak in NBA history. Score: 105-87.
John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

Game 23: March 18 at Boston Celtics. LeBron James had 37 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds as the Heat topped the 2008 Houston Rockets for the second-longest streak in NBA history. Score: 105-103.
Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports

Game 24: March 20 at Cleveland Cavaliers. The game was delayed 45 minutes by an oil leak above the court. And the Heat waited an entire half to show up themselves. But despite trailing 67-40 with about seven minutes left in the third quarter, Miami took over and won behind a 25-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance from LeBron James against his former team. Score: 98-95.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports

Game 25: March 22 vs. Detroit Pistons. The Heat trailed by 11 in the second quarter but quickly came back and took over by the middle of the third. Norris Cole had four of the team's 15 steals, and LeBron James had 29 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. Score: 103-89.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Game 26: March 24 vs. Charlotte Bobcats. Dwyane Wade sat out with a sore knee, but LeBron James made sure it didn't matter. James had 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals, shooting 11-for-14 from the field as the Heat overcame an early 11-point deficit. Score: 109-77.
J. Pat Carter, AP

Game 27: March 25 at Orlando Magic. With Dwyane Wade sitting again with a sore knee, the Heat relied on a balanced effort led by LeBron James. Chris Andersen, pictured, had seven points and three blocks off the bench, and the team shot 15-for-28 on threes. Score: 108-94.
Gary Bogdon, Getty Images

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The Celtics have played some pretty good basketball lately, too. During the Heat's winning streak, Boston is 13-6, a .684 winning percentage. Yet, the Celtics have gone from 7½ games behind Miami to 15 games back in the standings.

"They're just better at what they do. I don't think they've changed much," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "They've played the same way all year. They spread the floor. They attack. Defensively is where they've gotten a lot better over this stretch."

Since Feb. 2, the Heat have the sixth-best defense in the league, allowing 99.8 points per 100 possessions. Save for a close call here and there, the Heat have been dominant, beating opponents by 11.7 points a game.

Fitting, that in order for the Heat to stand alone in second place, they will have to beat the Celtics. It is the Eastern Conference's best and most intense rivalry, the teams having met in the playoffs the past two seasons, including a grueling seven-game Heat victory in last season's conference finals.

"The most important thing for us (Monday) is our intensity," Heat forward LeBron James said. "We are going in there and they are going to be ready for us. We will be ready for the game and it is a team we could possibly see in the playoffs. I am not worried about our level of play or our level of focus because we know what type of team we are playing."

If the Celtics want to beat the white-hot Heat, they may to do it without All-Star center Kevin Garnett, who Rivers said is 50-50 with a strained right groin.

"You want to beat them. They're the world champs," Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters Sunday. "You don't need any extra reason to want to beat them, at least we don't. They face this every night, and it's what we faced in 2009 every night.

"That's what makes their streak so impressive to me. They're getting the best from teams and still winning."

The Celtics and Heat have played twice this season, with Miami winning the first meeting on Oct. 30 and the Celtics winning on Jan. 27. But neither the Heat nor the Celtics are the same since late January. Both teams are much improved.

"They're just better at what they do," Rivers said. "I don't think they've changed much. They've played the same way all year. They spread the floor. They attack. Defensively is where they've gotten a lot better over this stretch.

"Everybody's doing everything great for them right now."

At first and even as recently as a week ago, the Heat tried to downplay the significance of their streak. That is no longer possible.

"This is a special team, a special ride right now that we are on," James said. "The best thing about it is that we are doing it together. We are doing it for one another and we just want to try and keep it going.

Since the Heat are the Heat, every game on their schedule is winnable, and if they can beat the Celtics, talk will intensify about a possible run at the Lakers' record. After Boston, Miami's four games are against teams with losing records. Of their next 10 games after Monday, just three teams — the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Bucks — have winning records.

"It is not about the streak," James said. "It is about us getting better each and every day. Preparing to win each and every night and we have been fortunate to do that."

For James and Heat, the two are intertwined. Getting better each day and preparing to win each day has generated a remarkable streak.

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During their title-winning heyday, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots set the NFL record with 21 consecutive wins overall from 2003 to 2004, including a Super Bowl XXVIII victory over the Panthers. The streak ended midway through the 2004 season, but New England went on to win its second straight Super Bowl.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

In perhaps a microcosm of his entire career, Peyton Manning led the Colts to an NFL-record 23 consecutive regular-season wins from 2008 to 2009. Indianapolis lost in the wildcard playoffs following the 2008 season.
Sam Riche, The Indianapolis Star

Jerry West and the Lakers won an NBA-record 33 consecutive games during the 1971-72 season that saw Los Angeles win a then-record 69 games and its first championship since moving from Minneapolis.
AP file photo

During a run of 10 national titles in 12 years (an impressive streak of its own), legendary coach John Wooden, center, and the UCLA men's basketball team won 88 consecutive games from 1971 to 1974. The streak ended here with a 71-70 loss at Notre Dame on Jan. 19, 1974, a date star center Bill Walton (32) says is seared in his memory.
AP file photo

Maya Moore and the Connecticut women's basketball team set the NCAA mark with 90 consecutive wins from 2008 to 2010, claiming two national titles during the run. UConn's streak ended with a 71-59 loss to Stanford.
Jessica Hill, AP

During his final season in the majors, Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson helped the New York Giants amass an MLB-record 27-game unbeaten streak in 1916. The Giants' run included 26 wins and one tie.
AP file photo

Phil Cavarretta and the Cubs set the National League record with 21 consecutive wins at the end of the 1935 season. The streak helped Chicago clinch the best record in the majors that year, but the Cubs lost the World Series to the Detroit Tigers.
AP file photo

The Moneyball-era A's set the American League record with 20 consecutive wins in August and September of 2002. Oakland got win No. 20 in dramatic fashion when Scott Hatteberg hit a walk-off homer here in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Royals 12-11.
Paul Sakuma, AP

Bobby Clarke (16) and the Flyers ran off an NHL-record 35 consecutive games with at least a point early in the 1979-80 season. Philadelphia went 25-0-10 during the streak that propelled the team to the best record in the league and a Stanley Cup Final appearance.
AP file photo

The Penguins hold the NHL record for most consecutive victories, ripping off 17 wins in a row at the end of the 1992-93 season. Coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, though, coach Scotty Bowman and Pittsburgh lost in the second round of the playoffs.
Rick Stewart, Getty Images

The Blackhawks set an NHL-record streak of 24 consecutive games with a point to begin the 2012-2013 season. Chicago went 21-0-3, with all three overtime losses coming in shootouts.
Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports

Led by Hall of Fame coach Bud Wilkinson, Oklahoma set the NCAA Division I football record for consecutive wins with 47 straight from 1953 to 1957. The streak, which ended with a 7-0 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 16, 1957, included three consecutive undefeated seasons and back-to-back national championships.
Harold Valentine, AP

Division III Mount Union owns the two longest win streaks in NCAA football history. Coach Larry Kehres guided the Purple Raiders to 54 straight wins and three national titles from 1996 to 1999. Mount Union quickly started a new streak and won 55 straight and three more championships from 2000 to 2003.
Ron Schwane, AP

The Penn State women's volleyball team won 109 consecutive matches, including three national titles, from 2007 to 2010. The streak ended early in the 2010 season, but the Nittany Lions recovered and went on to win their fourth straight NCAA championship.
Charlie Riedel, AP

Legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez won the first 87 fights of his career, from his debut in 1980 to 1993. He fought Pernell Whitaker to a draw, then won his next two fights to run his unbeaten streak to 90 before suffering the first loss of his career against Frankie Randall on Jan. 29, 1994.
Gary Hershorn, Reuters